C2.1. Unit 1-4 Phrases & Idioms Flashcards
a leopard can’t/doesn’t change its spots
a person’s character, especially if it is bad, will not change, even if they pretend that it will
be in the cards
“So you think they’ll get married next year?” “I think it’s in the cards.”
to be likely to happen
be on the point of (doing) something
As we were on the point of giving up hope, a letter arrived.
She was so tired that she was on the point of collapse.
to be going to do something very soon
black and white
She only owns black and white T-shirts, but no other colors. (This means she has some T-shirts that are black, and some that are white.)
has no colors except black, white, and gray:
black-and-white
Disarmament isn’t a black-and-white issue for me.
She only owns black-and-white T-shirts. (This means her T-shirts are all patterned in some way with a mix of black and white.)
The black-and-white butterfly rested on red flowers. (This means the butterfly is bicolored: black and white.)
A black-and-white subject or situation is one in which it is easy to understand what is right and wrong
bread and butter
your bread and butter
Gardening is my bread and butter right now.
a job or activity that provides you with the money you need to live
break the mold
Their approach to sports teaching broke the mold.
to be new and different
breathe (new) life into sth
We need some new people to breathe life into this project.
to bring new ideas and energy to something
change for the better
Her attitude has definitely changed for the better since she started this new job.
to improve
change for the better
Her attitude has definitely changed for the better since she started this new job.
to improve
have a change of heart
She was going to sell her house but had a change of heart at the last minute.
If you have a change of heart, you change your opinion or the way you feel about something
change places
I wouldn’t change places with him for the world!
to be in another person’s situation
change your mind
If you change your mind about coming tonight, just give me a call.
to form a new opinion or make a new decision about something that is different from your old one
change your tune
He was against the idea to start with, but he soon changed his tune when he realized how much money he’d get.
to change your opinion completely (quite radically) because you know it will bring you some advantage
change your ways
If he wants to carry on living here, he’s going to have to change his ways and learn to be a little less messy.
to improve the bad parts of your behavior
elbow people aside
They also claim that the security team elbowed aside a steward.
push people with your elbows in order to move somewhere
face the idea
Jenny couldn’t face the idea of moving to a big city, so she turned down the job.
face the music
On his return to Canada, he finally faced the music and told his wife about his debts.
to accept responsibility for something you have done
fall into place
After a lot of work over the past few years, my career goals are beginning to fall into place.
When things fall into place, they happen in a satisfactory way, without problems
fame and fortune
She moved to New York in search of fame and fortune.
The proportion of athletes who achieve fame and fortune is tiny.
the state of being famous and rich
first and foremost
In spite of her recent success as a novelist, she remains first and foremost a poet.
more than anything else
flesh and blood
I was surprised at how much I cared for this girl who wasn’t even my flesh and blood.
someone from your family
foot the bill
Don’t worry about paying for your hotel - I’m happy to foot the bill.
to pay for something, esp. something expensive
give and take
In every relationship there has to be some give and take.
willingness to accept suggestions from another person and give up some of your own
touch-and-go
The doctor says that it’s touch-and-go whether Mary will be okay.
If a situation is touch-and-go, it is uncertain. When you are not sure about the outcome of a situation (50%-50%).
go downhill
After his wife died, his health started to go downhill.
to gradually become worse
high and dry
Cuts to the educational budget have left many school arts departments high and dry.
The residents of the earthquake-torn city found themselves high and dry because the governor did not approve a disaster relief package.
in a very difficult situation without any help.
Left with nothing at all and with no prospect.
life and soul
the life and soul of the party
someone who is energetic and funny and at the center of activity during social occasions
lose track
What he was saying was so complicated that I lost track after the first couple of sentences.
I’ve lost track of the number of times he’s asked me to lend him money.
to no longer know what is happening, or not to remember something
new blood (n)
The new blood in the team should improve our chances of victory in next week’s game.
people with a lot of energy or fresh ideas who are brought into an organization in order to improve it
on the verge (of)
- to be on the verge of sth
- come to the verge of sth
on the verge of collapse/success/tears/death/disaster/war
Her husband’s violent and abusive behavior drove her to the verge of despair.
If you are on the verge of something or come to the verge of something, you are very close to experiencing it
out of the blue
One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving.
If something happens out of the blue, it is completely unexpected
reinvent the wheel
to waste time trying to create something that someone else has already created. Frequently used in negative constructions.
ring the changes (on)
idiom UK
Ring the changes on packed lunches using different types of bread and spicy fillings.
to do something in a different way in order to make it more interesting
ring the changes (on)
UK
Ring the changes on packed lunches using different types of bread and spicy fillings.
to do something in a different way in order to make it more interesting
shake something up (noun: a shake up)
Technological changes have shaken up many industries.
The first thing the new chairman of the company did was to shake up the management.
to cause large changes in something such as an organization, usually in order to make improvements
shoulder the burden
It is part of a manager’s job to shoulder the burden of complaints made by guests.
used to refer to the responsibility that someone has or feels for something.
stand in the way of something/someone
(also stand in someone’s way)
You know I won’t stand in your way if you want to apply for a job abroad.
to try to stop or prevent something or someone
stick to your guns
Despite harsh criticism, she’s sticking to her guns on this issue.
to continue to have your beliefs or continue with a plan of action, even if other people disagree with you
stomach the idea
He can’t stomach the idea that Peter might be the next chairman.
to be able to accept an unpleasant idea or watch something unpleasant
teeter on the brink/edge of something
What we are seeing now is a country teetering on the brink of civil war.
If something is teetering on the brink/edge of a bad situation, it is likely that the situation will happen soon
the rest is history
The Beatles had their first hit record in 1962 and the rest is history.
everything that happened since then is well known
through thick and thin
She has stuck with me through thick and thin.
If you support or stay with someone through thick and thin, you always support or stay with them, even if there are problems or difficulties
time and again
I’ve told you time and time again to lock both doors before you leave.
very often. Over and over again.
toe the line
At the resort, I always toed the line on company policy, even if I disagreed with it.
If you want to get ahead, you’d better learn to toe the line.
to do what you are expected to do without causing trouble for anyone (esp. job)
turn over a new leaf
Apparently he’s turned over a new leaf and he’s not smoking any more.
to start behaving in a better way
change hands
That Italian restaurant is nowhere near as good since it changed hands.
to go from one owner to another
the icing on the cake
(US also the frosting on the cake)
I was just content to see my daughter in such a stable relationship but a grandchild, that really was the icing on the cake.
an unexpected additional good thing
something that makes a good situation even better
to have a lot on your plate
She’s got a lot on her plate - especially with two new projects starting this week.
to have something, usually a large amount of important work, to deal with
to put all your eggs in one basket
I’m applying for several jobs because I don’t really want to put all my eggs in one basket
to depend for your success on a single person or plan of action
have bigger/other fish to fry
Valentina isn’t staying on here as a student as she has a biiger fish to fry in the US, with a Harvard scholarship.
to have something more important to do
sweeten the pill
Plans to improve public services are a way of sweetening the pill of increased taxation.
to make something bad seem less unpleasant
take something with a pinch of salt
(US take something with a grain of salt)
You have to take everything she says with a pinch of salt, because she tends to exaggerate.
to not completely believe something that you are told, because you think it is unlikely to be true
spill the beans
So who spilled the beans about her affair with David?
to tell people secret information
sell like hot cakes
With-profits bonds have sold like hot cakes to older people looking for a low-risk, high return for their money.
to be bought quickly and in large numbers
have egg on your face
This latest scandal has left the government with egg on its face.
If you have egg on your face, you look stupid because of something that you have done
get egg on your face
Harry got egg on his face when Professor Samuels confonted him in the canteen queue.
to be publicly embarrassed
to feel embarrassed or ashamed because of something you have done or said
eat humble pie
After boasting that his company could outperform the industry’s best, he’s been forced to eat humble pie.
to publicly admit that you were wrong
